The women’s safety clinic put on by Manchester police has been around for years, but in recent months has garnered more interest, and the department has even added a class.

Police said so many people have been signing up for the clinic they had to turn people away. In November, they had to say no to more than 30 people, and once again, the extra class they added filled right up.

Dozens of women learned Tuesday night that quick and efficient moves will throw an attacker off-guard.

“Some of the things that have been happening in the world today with school shootings and violence at the malls has made people feel a little uneasy,” Officer Paul Rondeau said.

With the help of Christina Dow of the Training Station, the police department offered a program that focuses on quick thinking and ways of using your own body as a weapon. Every exercise is practiced over and over.

“You always hear about how to defend yourself, but it’s another thing to practice, too,” said Rory Fawcett, who attended the class. “It was fun, especially with the Michelin Man dressed in orange – fun to go after him, beat him up and get some confidence that way.”

Home for a college break, Fawcett joined her mother at the class. It was the second time Lynn Fawcett had taken the class, having attended in November. But she said a refresher course was important.

“You have to be able to react right away, and that’s the secret,” Lynn Fawcett said. “I never thought about having to do that before.”

Women also participated in classroom time to learn practical ways to stay safe.

“I definitely have someplace to go,” Nicole Timmons said. “I have a little more knowledge instead of just freezing.”

Women said they left the class with a feeling of empowerment.

Normally, the clinic is held quarterly, but police said they might hold classes more frequently now.

UNARMED ROBBERY AND ASSAULT AND BATTERY WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON OF A DISABLED PERSON. A FREE PROGRAM MEANT TO TEACH WOMEN SELF DEFENSE WAS JUST PACKED TONIGHT IN MANCHESTER. MANCHESTER POLICE HAVE BEEN OFFERING A WOMEN'S SAFETY CLINIC FOR YEARS, BUT IN RECENT MONTHS INTEREST IN IT HAS REALLY PICKED UP FOR SOME REASON. AND AS HEATHER HAMEL EXPLAINS, THEY EVE THEN TO ADD A CLASS. HEATHER? YES, MANCHESTER POLICE SAY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SIGNING UP FOR THIS CLASS, IN FACT IN NOVEMBER THEY HAD TO TURN ABOUT 30 PEOPLE AWAY. THEY SAY IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING CRIME HERE IN THE CITY AS WELL AS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT'S SPARKING ALL THE INTEREST. ALL THE WAY UP, STRAIGHT UP AND SPIN TOWARDS THE HAND. IT KNOCKS HIS HANDS OFF MY SHOULDERS. QUICK YET FISH, THOSE ARE THE MOVES THAT WILL THROW AN ATTACKER OFF GUARD. FOR WOMEN MY AGE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KICK BUTT. AGE IS NOT AN OBSTACLE HERE. THIS SAFETY CLINIC ISN'T NEW, BUT IN RECENT MONTHS IT'S GAINED A LOT OF INTEREST. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY WITH SOME OF THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND SOME OF THE VIOLENCE THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT THE MALLS HAS MADE PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY. WITH THE HELP OF CHRISTINA DOW OF THE TRAINING STATION THEY OFFER A PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON QUICK THINKING AND WAYS OF USING YOUR OWN BODY AS A WEAPON. EVERY EXERCISE IS PA PRACTICED OVER AND OVER. YOU ALWAYS FEAR ABOUT HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF, BUT IT'S ONE THING TO PRACTICE IT, SO IT WAS REALLY FUN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MICHELIN MAN, IT WAS FUN TO BEAT HIM UP AND GET CONFIDENCE. HOME FROM A COLLEGE BREAK, SHE JOINED HER MOTHER AT THE CLASS. IT'S THE SECOND TIME LYNN HAS DONE THIS, HAVING TAKEN THE CLASS IN NOVEMBER. AND SHE SAYS A REFRESHER IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO REACT RIGHT AWAY, THAT'S THE SECRET. AND I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING TO DO THAT BEFORE. THERE'S ALSO CLASSROOM TIME, WHEN WOMEN LEARN PRACTICAL WAYS TO STAY SAFE. NOTHING IN YOUR PURSE OR WALLET IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY. TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO BUILD CONFIDENCE. I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO, I HAVE A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGE INSTEAD OF JUST FREEZING. INSTEAD THEY ARE LEFT WITH A FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT. NORMALLY THE CLINIC IS HELD QUARTERLY, BUT BECAUSE IT'S GAINED SO MUCH POPULARITY, MANCHESTER POLICE SAY THEY MAY

Hillary Clinton did not have a State Department email account while she served as America's top diplomat, a senior state department official said Monday, and instead used a personal email account during her four years on the job.